EPQ UCAS Points: Every Grade, What It's Worth in 2026

Quick answer: An EPQ is worth 8 to 28 UCAS points, depending on the grade — A* = 28, A = 24, B = 20, C = 16, D = 12, E = 8. It adds on top of your A-levels, so an A* EPQ equals half a full A-level.

The EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) is one of the easiest ways to add a clear, predictable chunk to your UCAS total. You already have the headline number above — anything from 8 points for an E up to 28 for an A*. Whatever grade you're predicted, the EPQ stacks neatly on top of your main Level 3 qualifications. It's a bonus, never a make-or-break part of your score, and the full calculator just below lets you add it to everything else in one place.

EPQ UCAS points calculator

The interactive calculator above this page does the maths for you: pick your EPQ grade to see exactly what it's worth, then add your A-level grades to watch your combined total update live. No spreadsheets, no guessing — just your real number in front of you. If you'd like the dedicated tool on its own, you can open the full EPQ calculator at any time.

How to use this EPQ points calculator

It takes about thirty seconds. Here's the order we'd suggest:

1. Select your EPQ grade to see its points value (A* = 28 down to E = 8).
2. Add your A-level grades in the rows provided so the tool can total everything.
3. Read your combined live total — your A-levels plus your EPQ, added up instantly.
4. Swap grades to compare your predicted result against your target, so you can see how much headroom the EPQ gives you.

If you only want your main qualification total first, the A-level points calculator works the same way and feeds the same numbers.

How many UCAS points is an EPQ?

An EPQ is worth between 8 and 28 UCAS points, depending only on the grade you achieve: A* = 28, A = 24, B = 20, C = 16, D = 12, E = 8. The figure adds straight on top of your other Level 3 results. To put that in context, an A* EPQ (28) is worth the same as half a full A-level A* (56 points) — a genuinely useful boost, but never a substitute for an extra subject.

EPQ grade to UCAS points table (2026)

Here's the complete grade-to-points breakdown. These are the official figures for 2026 entry.

The values have been unchanged since the 2017 UCAS Tariff reform, so they're stable and valid for 2026 entry. Each grade step is worth four points, which makes the scale easy to read at a glance. If you want the bigger picture of where these numbers come from, our guide to how UCAS points are calculated walks through the whole Tariff.

How the EPQ stacks on top of your A-levels

This is the part most students care about: the EPQ doesn't replace anything — it adds to your A-level points. You keep every point from your three (or more) main subjects, then the EPQ goes on top. That's what makes it such a clean way to push your total into a higher band.

Here are a few realistic combinations so you can see how it works:

So if you're sitting on ABB (128 points) and you land a B in your EPQ, you're actually on 148 — comfortably above the headline ABB figure. The point to hold onto is simple: the EPQ is always extra. You can check any of your main grade combinations against the full A-level points table and then add your EPQ on top.

Worked example: adding your EPQ to your total

Let's run a real one slowly, so the arithmetic is obvious.

Say you're predicted A, A, B. On the Tariff that's 48 + 48 + 40 = 136 points — the standard AAB total. Now add an A-grade EPQ, which is worth 24 points:

• A-level A = 48
• A-level A = 48
• A-level B = 40
• EPQ grade A = 24
• Total = 160 points

That single A-grade EPQ took you from 136 to 160 — a 24-point jump for one extra qualification. For some courses that's the difference between two offer bands. You can see exactly how these two qualifications sit together on our A-level plus EPQ combined page.

What an A* EPQ is worth — and the top of the scale

An A* EPQ is worth 28 points — the highest value any EPQ can earn. As we noted, that's equal to half a full A-level A* (56 points). It won't ever match a whole extra subject, but 28 points is often exactly what's needed to nudge a total over a threshold and into a higher offer band. If you're chasing every realistic point you can, our guide on how to get more UCAS points covers the EPQ alongside other add-ons.

A few things to know before you count your EPQ

Before you bank those EPQ points in your head, a few honest caveats — these matter, and we'd rather you weren't caught out:

• It only counts if the university accepts it. The points exist on the Tariff, but each course decides whether to use them. Always check the entry requirements.
• Many unis make an "alternative offer" instead. Rather than simply adding the points, a course may lower your main A-level requirement if you achieve a set EPQ grade — for example, asking for ABB *or* BBB with an A in your EPQ. That's a different (and often better) deal than just stacking points, so read offers carefully.
• No double-counting. Your EPQ counts once. You can't use it as both a points add-on and a grade reduction in the same offer.
• The Tariff covers Level 3 only. The EPQ sits at Level 3, which is why it earns points; GCSEs (Level 2) don't.
• Not every university uses the Tariff at all. Some make grade-specific offers and ignore points entirely.

For the full picture, see EPQ explained and do all universities use UCAS points?.

What your EPQ points mean for your next step

Now you know the add-on, the useful move is to work out your full realistic number — A-levels plus EPQ — and see what it actually qualifies you for. Drop your grades into the calculator above to lock in your total, then check it against real course requirements. Our guide to how many UCAS points do I need? shows the typical ranges, and the reverse tool what can I study with my UCAS points? turns your number into a realistic list of courses.

See what you can study with your points

Related qualification points tables

If you're combining the EPQ with something other than A-levels, or just want to check your main qualification, here are the sibling tables:

• AS-level points table — for AS results sitting alongside your A-levels.
• BTEC points table — for BTEC Diplomas and Certificates.
• IB points table — for International Baccalaureate Higher and Standard Level.

The EPQ and the UCAS Tariff, explained

Want the background rather than just the numbers? EPQ explained covers what the qualification actually involves and how universities view it, while what is the UCAS Tariff? sets out how the whole points system fits together.